Friday, July 22, 2016

Héctor Babenco, the Argentina-born Brazilian director whose films often examined deep political and class divisions and was best known for his Oscar-winning "Kiss of the Spider Woman", died Wednesday night [07/13/16]in Sao Paulo following a heart attack. He was 70.

From the IMDb:

Hector Babenco was born on February 7, 1946 in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina as Héctor Eduardo Babenco. He was a director and writer, known for "Carandiru" (2003), "Pixote" (1981) and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985). He was married to Bárbara Paz, Raquel Arnaud and Xuxa Lopes. He died on July 13, 2016 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

He also directed "Ironweed" with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep.

Babenco is of note for Toobworld because one of his movies was absorbed into the TV Universe. "Carandiru" could be found in Earth Prime-Time, at least one of the Borderlands, or perhaps in both.

"Carandiru" was based on a true story,,,,,

Again, from the IMDb:

Brazilian MD Drauzio Varella starts AIDS prevention in Brazil's largest prison, Carandiru, in São Paulo, where the population is nearly double its 4,000 maximum. Doc learns from experience and mainly stories the tragic stories of hideous crimes which landed scum there and passionate dramas adding otherwise decent people. Just when he believes [he can make] the prisoners happy with a soccer tournament, a silly clothing line argument kick-starts a politically opportune revolt repression.- Written by KGF Vissers

Film based on real life experiences of Doctor Drauzio Varella inside dreadful State penitentiary Carandiru, in São Paulo, Brazil, while he was doing social work of AIDS' prevention. There he found hundreds of convicts living under degrading conditions. The situation came to a climax in 1992, when in order to smother a rebellion, [the] police force killed 111 men.- Written by lukejoplin@infolink.com.br

Two years later, Babenco followed it up with a ten episode series 'Carandiru' in which Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos reprised his film role of the "Medico*". In fact, at least sixteen actors returned to the series as the characters they played in the film:

Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos [seen above]...Médico

Ivan de Almeida...Nego Preto

Ailton Graça... Majestade

Milton Gonçalves...

Chico

Gabriel Braga Nunes...Sérgio

Antônio Grassi...Seu Warden Pires (as Antonio Grassi)

Aida Leiner...Rosirene

Maria Luísa Mendonça... Dalva

Lázaro Ramos...Ezequiel

Robson Nunes...Dada

Caio Blat...Deusdete

André Ceccato...Barba aka Beard

Vanessa Gerbelli...Célia

Sabrina Greve...Catarina

Floriano Peixoto...Antonio Carlos

Dionísio Neto...Lula

However, there was one recastaway in the series:

TV Universe

Aury Porto...Mário Cachorro

CineverseRégis Santos...Mário Cachorro (as Regis Santos)

I'm not sure if I should just cite Occam's Razor and say that minor detail is enough to keep both versions of "Carandiru" separated in their own fictional universes, or, at best, relegate the series and movie to a cinematic Borderland only. I could always go "out there" and make a claim of quantum leaping, shape-shifters, or - ho-hum - plastic surgery.

LOL - at this point, I should probably point out that I have seen neither the movie nor the TV series of "Carandiru".

At any rate, that is Mr. Babenco's contribution to my televisiological studies.

Good night and may God bless Hector Babenco.....

* I'm not exactly sure if Vasconcelos was playing Dr. Varella since the real Dráuzio Varella (seen above) is listed as making an unredited appearance as "Himself". (Yes, I know the IMDb is not always reliable. I'm thinking he made an appearance but just as an extra, much like Chuck Yeager in "The Right Stuff" while Sam Shephard played Yeager.)

Just An Old Cowhand On The TiVo Grande

As the Trickster once said, "Reality is boring, that's why I change it whenever I can."
I'm just "The Man Who Viewed Too Much", and "Inner Toob" is a blog exploring and celebrating the 'reality' of an alternate universe in which everything that ever happened on TV actually takes place.
Most of my theories about the TV Universe come from thinking inside the box and thus can't be proven. But I've never been one to shy away from a tall tale.....
Remember: "The more you watch, the more you've seen!"